Defining Mature Data Practices

The push toward implementing artificial intelligence (AI) to automate and streamline government operations means now, more than ever, agencies need to understand what data they have and how to use it. The vast amount of data agencies hold has made fully understanding and utilizing it difficult. Agencies are at varying stages of data maturity—ranging from simply collecting data to being able to effectively leverage and value it.

The Federal Data Maturity Model was designed to help agencies assess where they stand in terms of fully utilizing data to drive operations and decision-making. The core components of the examination are:

Leadership and Governance

• Presence of executive leadership support for data initiatives
• Clear roles and responsibilities for data governance

Data Strategy and Planning

• Existence of a formal data strategy aligned with agency goals
• Plans for data collection, sharing, and use

Data Management

• Quality and integrity of data collection and storage
• Standardization and consistency of data across systems

Data Use and Analysis

• Capacity to perform data analysis and derive insights
• Use of data for decision-making and performance improvement

Data Sharing and Partnerships

• Mechanisms for sharing data within and outside the agency
• Partnerships with other federal agencies, states, and private entities

Data Talent and Culture

• Development of data literacy and skills among staff
• Establishing a data-driven culture

In looking at these areas, agencies can determine their level of maturity on a scale of one to five.

1. Initial – Ad hoc and reactive use of data without formal processes or strategy.
2. Developing  – Emerging structure that has some processes in place but is inconsistent across the enterprise.
3. Defined – Established processes consistently used and enforced across the enterprise.
4. Managed – Processes are actively managed and continuously improved.
5. Optimized – Data is fully integrated into decision-making and operations.

Organizations need to understand where they are on this scale to effectively implement AI and related technologies and optimize the use of government resources. Moving up the data maturity scale results in more transparency in operations and spending, personalized service to constituents, and higher levels of automation for routine tasks.

The Department of Labor’s documentation of their first data maturity assessment found that in order to move up the chain from their assessed position of a level 2 maturity, they needed to invest in building data talent, standardizing data management across the enterprise, improving documentation, establishing an effective metadata framework, and standardizing technological lifecycle processes specific to the development of advanced analytical tools.

Specifically, they laid out goals that include:

• Establishing Data Governance Roles, such as having chief data stewards
• Developing an Enterprise Data Inventory
• Founding a Metadata Schema for describing datasets in a consistent and predictable way
• Creating a controlled vocabulary containing tags and keywords for categorizing datasets
• Incorporating a data theme into agency management plans, with guidance on data projects (e.g. data governance, talent, use, and access)
• Forming Data Board Working Groups around data talent, data-informed enforcement, and analytics
• Collaborating with Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) partners on the development lifecycle of transformational technological capabilities that will support open data, data sharing, and advanced analytical capabilities

To learn more about data maturity assessment and improvement, check out these resources from GovWhitePapers and GovEvents:

• Staying Current with Emerging Technology Trends: Using Big Data to Inform Planning (white paper) – Leveraging big data and machine learning, organizations can identify pivotal research clusters and trends that influence global advancements. By combining expert insights with data-driven tools, decision-makers can navigate the complexities of future technological landscapes with clarity.
• The Data Steward: The Unsung Hero of AI (white paper) – AI is being applied across all areas of federal and defense organizations, including health, finance, human resources, operations, and security. Whether AI is being used to predict disease outbreaks or shift the outcome of a war, it depends on accurate, reliable, and trustworthy data. Data stewards play a crucial role in ensuring this standard is met.
• Transformative Data Strategy for Federal Agencies (white paper) – Well-executed data strategies are now a cornerstone of operations in the federal government. In a recent roundtable discussion, federal experts explored successful data strategies, shared challenges with developing and executing data strategies, examined use cases enabled by strategic data initiatives, and discussed the importance of a data strategy to advance technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Harnessing AI and Unstructured Data for Government Innovation (April 24, 2025; webcast) – This webinar invites technology professionals to explore the challenges and opportunities of integrating Generative AI and Retrieval-Augmented Generation with unstructured data. Attendees will  collaborate with peers on how to harness AI and data to build a more efficient, responsive, and forward-thinking government.
• Modernization Workshop (April 29, 2025; webcast) – Modernization and tech experts explore the latest trends, tools, and strategies essential for transforming legacy systems and embracing emerging technologies. Dive into digital transformation, cloud migration, and artificial intelligence alongside peers. Attendees will uncover practical approaches for overcoming modernization challenges and positioning their organizations for future success.
• Data/Analytic Forum 2025 (June 25, 2025; Reston, VA)  – This forum will bring together experts and thought leaders to explore the critical role of advanced data analytics, data migration, and a skilled and talented data workforce in driving the future direction of both government and industry.

Search GovWhitePapers and GovEvents to find even more insights into data maturity in government.